I have done a little research and have narrowed down to two choices....the Band by Headway Electronics, and the under-the-bridge model by Pick Up the World.
I've seen a lot of threads on pickups on the session, but I would like to hear the opinions of those who have actually used either of these pickups.
I use "the Band". It works OK. You need a preamp with it, but I think that's true for about any pickup you might use.
So I think that the problem with Band and the problem with piezo pickups in general is that they just don't capture all of the audio information that is needed in order to make you ear/brain think it's hearing a violin. I would say they capture around 80%. The signal they capture seems to lack certain nuances of resonance, tone, etc. This is usually tolerable if you are playing with a loud amplified group which is how I use it. Adding some moderate reverb helps too. If you play it unaccompanied, it will sound violin-like, but there may be moments where it sounds like a harmonica or something else vaguely violin-like but not quite the same. Not that it sounds bad. Just don't set your expectations too high.
I would just add to crazy_fingers comment, that you can improve the signal (customize) with a stereo parametric equalizer. Some units are inexpesnive and do a great job.
I agree--piezo pickups are a compromise, sound-wise. I just got a Kremona pickup, and use an inexpensive Boss GEB-7 stomp-box (preamp with 7-band graphic EQ--they call it a "Bass Equalizer" but it works fine for fiddle). Sound quality is not quite as good as a condenser mic--but good enough for noisy gigs.
The preamp generally makes a big difference, of course some pickup/fiddle combinations are never going to sound that good. Behringer makes an acoustic DI called the ADI21 with a piezo input -- sells for $30 or so.
If you can afford it, the L.R.Baggs para-acoustic DI is really great and the insert loop is ultra-handy for use with a stomp-box tuner and other eq's effects, etc.
BTW -- Mickray, mentioned using a Boss GEB-7 EQ, which has a surprisingly high input impedance of 1Meg-ohm, making it a pretty good substitute for a piezo pre-amp. Most guitar stomps have too low an impedance to be good that way.
Pickup-wise, I recently bought a Schatten VVM pickup and am pretty happy with it (for a piezo). It sticks to the bridge with putty and is easily removed. The output seems pretty good and smooth (for a piezo).
For contra-dances I use an Audio Technica Pro35x or Crown GLM-200. They sound great and resist feedback in that environment. You need phantom power.
BTW, I hear the Schertler DYN-V is supposed to sound awsome, but it costs $400-$500. It's a dynamic that sticks to the back of your fiddle with putty (remove every time).
Also, the David Gage Realist is supposed to sound very good, but I've never tried it. It's a piezo that sits beneath your bridge feet and goes for $170-$200.
I 've had to re-educate myself on pickups recently. Piezo's have a disasterous reputation, largely due to usage with the wrong pre-amp, or no pre-amp. They need a really high impedance pre-amp, while all PA and mixer boards are low impedance for microphones. The Behringer ADI21 claims an input impedance of 3.7 Mohms. About the only thing higher is the Fishman and Baggs preamps at much more $$. I've found the ADI21 to be pretty nice for a $30 box. The tube emulator circuit is iffy though, easily driven to distortion in my case. I just don't use the tube circuit. If you've been trying Piezo pickups without a preamp, this is a cheap way to correct that. Also, if you have other Behringer effects, such as a V-Amp, they also have the high 3.7 Mohm input, and can be used on the "clean" settings.
Sorry to blow past your actual question, davram -- I haven't used either pickup you're considering but have read complaints in some other forums (fora?) about the durability of the P.U.T.W. tape . You might want to google around and check it out.
I've always been intrigued by that type of pickup -- let us know how you like it if you go that way.
Piezo Fiddle pickup recommentation
Piezo Fiddle pickup recommentation
I have done a little research and have narrowed down to two choices....the Band by Headway Electronics, and the under-the-bridge model by Pick Up the World.
I've seen a lot of threads on pickups on the session, but I would like to hear the opinions of those who have actually used either of these pickups.
# Posted on April 23rd 2007 by davarm
Re: Piezo Fiddle pickup recommentation
I use "the Band". It works OK. You need a preamp with it, but I think that's true for about any pickup you might use.
So I think that the problem with Band and the problem with piezo pickups in general is that they just don't capture all of the audio information that is needed in order to make you ear/brain think it's hearing a violin. I would say they capture around 80%. The signal they capture seems to lack certain nuances of resonance, tone, etc. This is usually tolerable if you are playing with a loud amplified group which is how I use it. Adding some moderate reverb helps too. If you play it unaccompanied, it will sound violin-like, but there may be moments where it sounds like a harmonica or something else vaguely violin-like but not quite the same. Not that it sounds bad. Just don't set your expectations too high.
# Posted on April 23rd 2007 by crazy_fingerz
Re: Piezo Fiddle pickup recommentation
I would just add to crazy_fingers comment, that you can improve the signal (customize) with a stereo parametric equalizer. Some units are inexpesnive and do a great job.
# Posted on April 23rd 2007 by b0dhran
Re: Piezo Fiddle pickup recommentation
I agree--piezo pickups are a compromise, sound-wise. I just got a Kremona pickup, and use an inexpensive Boss GEB-7 stomp-box (preamp with 7-band graphic EQ--they call it a "Bass Equalizer" but it works fine for fiddle). Sound quality is not quite as good as a condenser mic--but good enough for noisy gigs.
# Posted on April 23rd 2007 by mickray
Re: Piezo Fiddle pickup recommentation
try them out if you can. i know two fiddlers who use exactly the same pickup - the lr baggs. one sounds really natural, the other awful.
# Posted on April 23rd 2007 by saltybrian
Re: Piezo Fiddle pickup recommentation
I just dumped a bunch of information in an older thread:
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/12283
The preamp generally makes a big difference, of course some pickup/fiddle combinations are never going to sound that good. Behringer makes an acoustic DI called the ADI21 with a piezo input -- sells for $30 or so.
If you can afford it, the L.R.Baggs para-acoustic DI is really great and the insert loop is ultra-handy for use with a stomp-box tuner and other eq's effects, etc.
BTW -- Mickray, mentioned using a Boss GEB-7 EQ, which has a surprisingly high input impedance of 1Meg-ohm, making it a pretty good substitute for a piezo pre-amp. Most guitar stomps have too low an impedance to be good that way.
Pickup-wise, I recently bought a Schatten VVM pickup and am pretty happy with it (for a piezo). It sticks to the bridge with putty and is easily removed. The output seems pretty good and smooth (for a piezo).
For contra-dances I use an Audio Technica Pro35x or Crown GLM-200. They sound great and resist feedback in that environment. You need phantom power.
BTW, I hear the Schertler DYN-V is supposed to sound awsome, but it costs $400-$500. It's a dynamic that sticks to the back of your fiddle with putty (remove every time).
Also, the David Gage Realist is supposed to sound very good, but I've never tried it. It's a piezo that sits beneath your bridge feet and goes for $170-$200.
Good luck,
Rich
# Posted on April 24th 2007 by Rich
Re: Piezo Fiddle pickup recommentation
I 've had to re-educate myself on pickups recently. Piezo's have a disasterous reputation, largely due to usage with the wrong pre-amp, or no pre-amp. They need a really high impedance pre-amp, while all PA and mixer boards are low impedance for microphones. The Behringer ADI21 claims an input impedance of 3.7 Mohms. About the only thing higher is the Fishman and Baggs preamps at much more $$. I've found the ADI21 to be pretty nice for a $30 box. The tube emulator circuit is iffy though, easily driven to distortion in my case. I just don't use the tube circuit. If you've been trying Piezo pickups without a preamp, this is a cheap way to correct that. Also, if you have other Behringer effects, such as a V-Amp, they also have the high 3.7 Mohm input, and can be used on the "clean" settings.
Jim
# Posted on April 24th 2007 by jhol111964
Re: Piezo Fiddle pickup recommentation
Sorry to blow past your actual question, davram -- I haven't used either pickup you're considering but have read complaints in some other forums (fora?) about the durability of the P.U.T.W. tape . You might want to google around and check it out.
I've always been intrigued by that type of pickup -- let us know how you like it if you go that way.
# Posted on April 25th 2007 by Rich